Arts Briefs - Week of 4/3

DAVIDSON – Author Masha Gessen will present a lecture at Davidson College about protest and civil rights in Russia as exemplified by Russian feminist performance art collective Pussy Riot.

Her free talk, titled “Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot,” starts at 8 p.m. April 7 in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room. The lecture is named after her recently published book.

Gessen writes about the group’s activism and what it reveals about Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

The group became internationally known when three of its members were imprisoned for an anti-Putin “prayer” performance in Moscow’s central cathedral.

Gessen was famously fired from her editorship of Russia’s oldest magazine for refusing to send a reporter to cover Putin’s hang-gliding flight with endangered cranes.

Alexander brings quirky plays to stage

CORNELIUS – The quirks and craziness of contemporary life are the fodder for theatrical fun in “Life As We Know It,” a 90-minute show of five short comedies and a monologue written by Elaine Alexander.

The show takes a satiric swipe at cell phone addiction, helicopter parenting and youth obsession among other modern-day maladies.

“The plays are hilarious, but they’re embedded in truth,” saids Marla Brown, artistic director of The Warehouse Performing Arts Center. “They explore provocative themes about our lives today, but Elaine writes them with wit and a wink to the audience.”

The show starts at 8 p.m. April 24-26 and May 1-3, as well as 2 p.m. April 27 and May 4, at the Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216 Westmoreland Road.

Spring Artfest accepts entries

MOORESVILLE – Mooresville Arts, formerly known as the Mooresville Artist Guild, is accepting entries for its 36th annual Spring Artfest.

Artists, ages 18 and older, may submit up to three original entries in oil or acrylic polymer; watercolor; all other two-dimensional works, such as pencil, pastel, pen and ink, collage, print and mixed media; or three-dimensional works. Entry costs $25 for members and $40 for others.

Art will be displayed April 19-May 30 at the Mooresville Depot Visual Arts Center, 103 W. Center Ave. An opening reception will be held May 9.

CORNELIUS – The North Mecklenburg Senior Center is holding its eighth annual Lake Norman Senior Fun and Fitness Day for ages 55 and older.

The event will feature a fitness walk, line dancing, tai chi, health vendors, football toss, chair exercise, lunch, music and health screenings.

“This should be a special day of fun, but also a challenge for our participants to keep in shape and stay healthy,” Director Joanne Ahern said.

Registration is required and costs $3 in advance or $5 at the event, which starts at 9 a.m. April 15 at Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road.

Details: 704-875-1270.

‘Tawba Walk returns to Brick Row

CORNELIUS – Bella Love will present the ‘Tawba Walk Music and Arts Festival, a street festival that features local performers, artisans, craft beer and sponsors.

Participants have originated or are headquartered in Lake Norman or the greater Charlotte region.

The event, once held quarterly, is now only held twice a year with the monthly second Friday Art Crawl filling the need for regular, re-occurring community art and entertainment festivals for the area.

The ‘Tawba Walk will be held May 17 beginning at Brick Row, 21325 Catawba Ave.

Car show entries date back to 1920s

MOORESVILLE – The Ford Owner’s Association of the Carolinas will feature 250 vehicles spanning every decade since the 1920s at its 10th annual Blue Oval Classic Car Show.

Trophies will go to Best of Show, as well as first, second and third place, in each of the 30-plus classes. Dash plaques and goody bags will be given to the first 200 cars on display.